The investigation conducted by the IDF revealed that the deputy commander erroneously thought the convoy of ambulances was associated with Hamas militants, attributing this misunderstanding to “poor visibility at night.”
On Sunday, April 20, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) announced the dismissal of the deputy commander of the Golani Brigade’s reconnaissance unit following the fatal shooting of 15 rescue workers in Rafah, Gaza, on March 23. This decision was made after an Israeli investigation revealed “professional failures” related to the incident, during which Israeli forces opened fire on a convoy of ambulances and emergency vehicles.
The investigation determined that the deputy commander mistakenly identified the convoy as belonging to Hamas militants, attributing this error to “poor night visibility.”
Video footage from the scene captured other ambulances, clearly marked with flashing lights and logos, arriving to assist an ambulance that had previously come under fire.
Reports indicate that the tragic incident resulted in the deaths of eight Red Crescent personnel, six Civil Defense workers, and a UN staff member. Following the shooting, IDF troops allegedly bulldozed the bodies and interred them in a mass grave, which was uncovered by UN personnel only a week ago.
The Israeli military’s inquiry concluded that the incident stemmed from an “operational misunderstanding” by the forces. Additionally, another incident shortly thereafter, in which Israeli soldiers fired upon a UN vehicle, was also found to violate orders.
The military further stated that the brigade commander would be removed due to his “partial and inaccurate” account of the incident during the initial investigation.
Moreover, the IDF indicated that the 14th Reserve Armored Brigade, which was in charge of the operation in Rafah at the time of the medics’ deaths, would face formal censure for its “overall responsibility for the incident.”
Importantly, Maj. Gen. (res.) Yoav Har-Even, who led the General Staff Fact-Finding Assessment Mechanism, concluded in his investigation that while there were no breaches of the IDF Code of Ethics, several “professional errors” were identified that compromised military protocol.
The IDF stated that it “regrets the harm caused to uninvolved civilians” and emphasized that the investigation aims to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The military further noted that the current protocols concerning the necessary precautions for rescue teams and medical personnel, even in high-conflict zones, have been refined and clarified.
